When we first told Connery about the pregnancy, he told us that he wanted to be at the birth. Once we explained to him--in general terms, mind--what that would entail, he changed his mind rather quickly, which was just fine with us. I know there are people who believe that giving birth is just another day in the human race and so should not be hidden away in a hospital room, and I respect that. But I think it would be hard to explain to a four year old exactly why his mother sounds like a rhino imitating Ethel Merman. Anyway, the point is that Connery does not want to be at the birth, and I am relieved.
I was, however, hoping to take him to the big 20-week ultrasound, the one where you can usually find out the sex of the baby. We've talked a lot about taking "pictures" of the baby, and he has been all for it. Which is why I was surprised when someone asked about his coming to the ultrasound and I said he would be coming, he looked at me like I was crazy. Confused, I asked him why he didn't want to come.
"When babies come out, they are dirty," he proclaimed. They need to be cleaned up before anyone sees them."
I don't ever remember telling him that babies come out dirty, but that's how a preschool mind works, apparently. When I reassured him that I only wanted him to come for the picture-taking, he was mollified. I expect this will not be the last misconception we're clearing up.